Die supporting work table

ABSTRACT

A WORK TABLE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE BY TOOL MAKERS WHEN FINISHING DIES AND MATING COOPERATING DIE HALVES IN WHICH THE WORK TABLE INCLUDES A FIRST SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING MEANS TO CLAMP ONE DIE HALF FOR MATING WITH A SECOND DIE HALF SUPPORTED ON AN INTERMEDIATE SUPPORT MEMBER, WHICH INTERMEDIATE SUPPORT MEMBER IS RECIPROCABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM FIRST MEMBER BY MEANS OF A MACHINE SCREW WHEREBY MATING OF THE RESPECTIVE DIES CAN BE ACCURATELY AND READILY &#34;TRIED&#34; TO FACILITATE HAND FINISHING OF THE DIES AS WELL AS PROVIDING A TRUCK FOR READILY TRANSPORTING AND STORING FINISHED DIES.

Jan. 19, 1971 P, MERINQ DIE SUPPORTING WORK TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet k Filed March 4, 1968 iNVENTOR. PETER day/v MFR/N0 6 TTOFF/UE X Jan. 19, 1971 P. J; MERINO 3,555,934

' DIE SUPPORTING WORK TABLE Filed March 4, 1968 f 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. PETER v/OHIU MEP/IUO HTTOF/UE X United States Patent Office Patented Jan. 19, 1971 3,555,934 DIE SUPPORTING WORK TABLE Peter John Merino, 1744 SW. 4th St., Miami, Fla. 33135 Filed Mar. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 710,000 Int. Cl. BZlk /20 US. Cl. 76-4 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A work table particularly adapted for use by tool makers when finishing dies and mating cooperating die halves in which the Work table includes a first support member having means to clamp one die half for mating with a second die half supported on an intermediate support member, which intermediate support member is reciprocable toward and away from first member by means of a machine screw whereby mating of the respective dies can be accurately and readily tried to facilitate hand finishing of the dies as well as providing a truck for readily transporting and storing finished dies.

Tool and die makers are particularly skilled in the production jigs, pressing and molding dies, etc., and although the preliminary work is accomplished by casting, milling, boring, etc., the final hand finishing of the dies, often up to .0001 of an inch, is a prolonged trial and error process.

Where male and female include complementary surfaces, the die maker must continually mate or try the die halves to determine high and low spots, wherein material must be removed. Many dies are relatively heavy and are diflicult to handle, and because the amount of time used in their production, special care must be taken to protect the dies while they are being finished, stored and transported, i.e., from tool room to the press on which they will be installed.

Primary objects of the present invention are to provide a novel die supporting work table, storing and transport truck in which a novel adjustable elevating structure is provided for an intermediate support member, in which a novel auxiliary support member can be installed in oriented relation to the intermediate support member and in which the respective support members include means for mounting mating die halves so that they can be readily tried during final finishing and which provide means for readily storing, transporting and installing finished dies.

These together with other and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with die halves supported on upper and intermediate support member;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the die halves being moved toward mated relation;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with the upper support member removed;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line 44 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the work table is indicated generally at see FIG. 3, and comprises a base or pedestal .12 produced by welding side and end frame elements 14 and 16, respectively, to form a rectangular frame. The frame elements preferably comprise angle elements and the side frame elements 14 include vertical flanges 18 and inwardly turned lower flanges 20. Secured to the outer surface of flanges 18 adjacent the corners of the frame are caster wheel assemblies indicated generally at 22. Extending transversely between the elements 14, at a medial portion thereof, are bracing angles 24, and integrally secured between the bracing angles 24 at the juncture of flanges 18 and 20 are the lower ends of tubular guide elements 26.

Connected to the pedestal or base 12 is jack means indicated generally at 28. The jack means comprises an articulated link structure which is operatively connected to a suport member indicated generally at 30.

The support member includes a machined upper surface 32 for receiving thereon a first die half A. The support member 30 includes depending side and end flanges 34 and 36, respectively, and conveniently includes a transverse handle 38 at one end. The support member 30 has secured at a medial portion, adjacent the side flanges 34, support brackets 40; see FIG. 4. The upper ends of guide rods 42 are secured in the brackets, and the lower ends of rods 42 are telescopically received in the tubular guide elements 26. The sleeves 26 and rods '42 in conjunction with the jack means 28 restrict the support member 30 in a vertical path of movement.

The jack means 28 comprises similar articulated link assemblies 44 at opposite sides of the table 10. Each assembly 44 comprises outermost upper and lower links 46 and 48, respectively, which are respectively pivotally connected at 50 and 52 to opposite ends of side flanges 46 and 48, respectively, which are respectively pivotally ends of the side flanges 34 and 18 are ends of inner links 58 and 60. Extending transversely between terminal or inner ends of links 46, 60 and 48, 58 are force transmitting bars 62 and 64, respectively, which are pivotally connected to the inner ends of the respective links as indicated at 66 and 68. A first intermediate link 70 is pivotally connected at 66 at one end, and is pivotally connected at 72 to an intermediate portion of link 58. A second intermediate link 74 is pivotally connected at 68 at one end, and is pivotally connected at 76 to an intermediate portion of link 60. It will be noted that the outer links 46 and 48 include outer flanges which rigidify and stabilize the jack means 28.

The pairs of links 46, 48, 58, 60, 70, 74 are respectively retained in parallel relation by virtue of the pivotal connections with each other and the base 12 and support member 30. When force is applied between bars 62, 64, the angular relationships between the links is changed, but the parallel relationships are maintained.

The force transmitting bars 62 and 64 have extending through central portions thereof coaxial bores 78 and 80, respectively, the former being internally threaded; see FIG. 4. The threaded bore 78 will be a relatively fine machine thread so that extremely fine vertical adjustments of support 30 can be effected. A control shaft 82 is intermediately journaled in bore and includes a threaded portion 84 engaged in bore 78. The shaft 82 includes a terminal stop 86 to prevent accidental removal of the shaft 82 from the bore '78. Fixed on shaft 82 at opposite sides of bar 64 are abutment elements 88 and 90. Fixed to the other end of shaft 82 is a crank or operating handle 92.

Before describing additional structure, it will be understood that rotation of shaft 82 in one direction or the other will cause the bars 62, 64 to move toward and away from, causing the pivots 66, 68 to move toward each other, and force is transmitted through intermediate links 70, 74 whereby the support member is adjusted in constrained horizontal movement relative to the base or pedestal.

The structure just described permits dies to be readily transported, i.e. to the machine on which it is to be installed, and vertical adjustment of the support member 30 permits the die to be oriented in coplanar relation with portions of a molding apparatus onto which the die will be moved, and/or the support 30 can be oriented to a convenient position permitting the tool maker to work on the dies.

The support member 30 has extending through the surface 32 transverse apertures 94 which are coaxial with apertures 96 in the flanges 20 of the side frame elements 14.

Removably received in apertures 94 are rods or legs 98 which include reduced diameter, lower portions 98 seated in the apertures 96. The legs 98 project a substantial distance above the support member 30 and include upper reduced diameter end portions 100 removably receiving thereon an upper support member indicated generally at 102. The support member comprises a rectangular frame having formed in side frame elements 104 and 106 suitable apertures received on the portions 100 of legs 98. The frame 102 has extending between end frame elements 108 and 110 a pair of spaced brace elements 112 and 114 forming a slot 116 therebetween. The slot 116 accommodates therein suitable clamp elements or the like such as C-clamps 118 from which are suspended a second die half B.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 the support member 30 can be adjusted in constrained relation with respect to support member 102. The member 30 is not only mounted in a fixed path of vertical travel by the cooperating sleeves and rods 26, 42, and the jack means 28, but is also guided in movement by the legs 98 which project through apertures 94.

When the die half B is mounted on support member 102, the member 102 can be readily transferred and positioned on the legs 98. The die half B can be readily deposited and oriented on surface 32 of member 30, and the member 30 can be readily raised and positioned in mating relation with respect to the die half B. Likewise, the support 30 can be readily lowered to permit hand finishing of die A or B. Further, when transporting the dies A and B to an installation site, the dies can be positioned in mating relation to, and in prohibiting accidental dislodgement of, the dies off the truck.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is only limited as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A die supporting work table comprising:

a base, said base including vertical guide means,

a support member including an upper surface for supporting a die thereon,

said support member including guide means engaging said vertical guide means of said base for constraining vertical movement of said support member in a fixed vertical path of travel,

jack means operatively connected between said base and support member for effecting relative vertical movement therebetween,

said jack means including a manually-operable control means whereby increments of vertical adjustment of said support member can be obtained,

said support member including transverse apertures extending therethrough, leg elements projecting through said apertures and including a lower portion engaging said base, said legs extending substantially above said support member, and a second support member being supported on said legs in spaced relation above said first support member, said second support member including means for suspending a die therefrom whereby said first mentioned support member is adjustable along said legs relative to said second support member.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said legs and base include means removably retaining said legs on said base.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said second support member and upper portions of said legs include removably retaining said second support member and said legs and permitting ready removal thereof.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said base includes transverse apertures arranged in rectangular relation adjacent opposite sides of said base, said legs including upper and lower reduced portions, said lower reduced portions being removably received in base apertures, said second support member including apertures removably engaged on the upper reduced portions of said legs.

5. The structure as claimed in claim 4 in which said guide means comprises telescopically engaged sleeves and rods.

6. The structure as claimed in claim 5 in which said jack means comprises articulated link assemblies disposed in transverse spaced relation at opposite sides of said base and support member and pivotally connected thereto, force transmitting bars pivotally connected in spaced relation transversely between intermediate pivot portions of said link assemblies, said manually operable control means comprising a shaft journaled for rotation in a transverse bore in one bar and threadedly engaged in a coaxial threaded bore in said other bar, said shaft being retained against axial movement in said bore in which it is journaled, and handle means on said shaft for rotating said shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,317,851 4/1943 Fullerton 764 2,696,970 12/1954 Hill 254122X 2,914,968 12/1959 Goodrich 764 3,016,770 1/ 1962 Atols 764 3,281,103 10/1966 Kisling 254122X BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

